Building Naples and Surrounding Areas

Orange Blossom Special, first passenger train into Naples. January 7, 1927. It was owned and operated by Seaboard Air Lines and was a winter only New York to Florida train catering to wealthy passengers. Prior to the trains arriving, the only way to get to Naples was via boat arriving at the Naples Pier, or via a bumpy road from Ft. Myers.
The arrival of the train was one of the biggest marketing and public relations events in American railroad history with celebrations in Fort Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples. There were five trains in all, carrying nearly 600 passengers from 90 cities in 18 states.

When the trains reached the Naples Depot, hundreds gathered by the track with flags, bands, horns and lots of fanfare.